China Stages Mass Building Demolition

HONG KONG – Buildings toppled like toy blocks in a southern Chinese city near the Hong Kong border today in what Hong Kong (search) media say is the largest urban demolition blasting ever in China (search).

A total of 15-hundred pounds of explosives were set off at the command of "Three, Two, One, Detonate," and 15 buildings fell sideways in a cloud of dust. But there was one glitch. A 16th building remained standing.

Hong Kong television station Cable TV reported it was only knocked down from 14 to 12 stories. An official says the building wasn't rigged with enough explosives in the right places.

He said the remaining building will be pulled down by bulldozers, Cable TV reported.

Scores of people watched the explosions from across the border in Hong Kong — some through a telescope.